Sealing device



Feb. 6, 1940. L F, wHlTNEY 2,188,990

SEALING DEVICE Filed April 155, 1957 Lyman E Wlzzeey,

y?? Anya;

UNITED STATES Patented Feb.` 6A, 19740 i i f 2,188,990

ICE- f sEALING D Evior; 3 'f `This invention relates to sealing devicesfor Vlow pressure heat exchange apparatus'oorthe like,

and more particularlyfto such devices ony low pressure refrigeratingsystems such aslare. disclosed inthe United States Patent No. 1,761,551to Eastman A. Weaver. Devices of the type provided by 1the present.invention permit the yconvenient exhaustion of atmospheric air from theVinterior of such a system,I and thereupon the sealing of the systemeffec-tively against the inward leakage 'Ofatmospheric air,',s0 that aVery'flovv'` internal pressure may be maintained indefinitely. Such a odevice may also permit the convenient introduction .of 'theworking'fluids into the system before the airis exhausted. A device'ofthis character mayr comprise alsocket in which av sealing ring or gasketof rubber or the like is disposed, a suitable inverted'cup-likemember or`-'cap being arranged yto be' pressed firmly against the rubber sealingring.' In accordance with'thi's invention, the'soc'ket member andthelcapmaypreferably both'bepro-vided with ribs of annular-,form whichbite into the yieldable `material of lthe sealing ring rmly to press`the same against the-walls of the socket, thusv assuring' a firmseal."v'Ih'e cap may conveniently be tightened in place by a singlescrew-threaded memberassociatedwith a"de tachable stirrup extending'overthe'cap andhaving [leg portions ,engagingQthe socket member. Thusthedevice may easily be ldisass'embledlwhen it 'is desired'fo'r anyreason to obtain access to the interior'v of thesystem.' A suitable tubeof y yieldable material, such `as a relatively heavy rubber tube, may bedisposed Within thecap member and Vmay communicate with the interiorofthe.s'ystem. The passage provided by the tube may be stoppedfbyasuitable plug after' air has been exhausted through the saine. Devicesof this character may also be employed in combination withpurgerassemblies which are commonly used with low pressure refrigeratingsystems of the character disclosed in the aboveidentified Weaver patent.`Thus su'ch adevice 'maybe conveniently arranged above a removable droptube so thataccess maybe obtainedto the interior ofthe system to permitremoval and replacement `of the purger drop tube when desired. l f1 f Inthe accompanying drawing: Y

IFig. 1 is a diagrammatic view'of a' refrigeratingsystem with sealingdevices ofqthe type provided by the present invention :associatedtherewith Fig.2. is acentral vertical section on an en# larged` scale ofone of the sealing devices shown Ain Fig. 1;v

y Eig. 3ilis' `aicentral sectional view taken atrig'ht angles tothe.plane of Fig. 2 and showing certain cooperating parts of the sealing:device inslightly spaced-position; .y ,I

Fig. 451s anregen sideelvationai View .ofthe sealingudevceemployedforthepurger; and igjfis.y a section indicated by line 5A5 of v o or'purposesof i1lustration,the accompanying drawing shows a simple form ofrefrgerating systerrifw'ithj which sealing devices constructed in laccordance with` the presentinvention may ,be employed. .A- system ofthis type may be provided with ab'o-ilerl provided with an electricalheater la] The boiler normally contains a body 'of .liquidpropellantgs.4 g.,'mercury.y During normal operation, propellant' vaporpasses upwardly from the boiler I through a riser duct 2 to an aspiratornozzle 3. Propellantfl'vapor issues at high velocity from thefnozzle 3into the mixing chamber 4 which-,is connected kby avapor'duct 'withfthecooler 6. The latter mayc'on'tain a body of aqueous refrigerant such aswater'or a suitable' antfi-freez'e'agent in solution with the.

water.y rRlefrigeiant vapor is drawn fromfthe cooler 6 through the pipe5 to the mixing chamber il'jwhere itfisentrained inthe propellant vaporstream. ,'Ih'e mixed vapors'ffpass intoy a funnel 8"where`Atherefrigerant isy compressed and pro,-v pellant 'may be condensed.vSuitable cooling `means ,suchv aslfns lare provided to aid thecondensation vof Lthis propellant. The refrigerant vapor `from thevfunnel 8 passes upwardly through the duct'l I`3 to` the.' condenser I4'which'may be of `any "suitable type, fas shown, being .provided'withfn's I5' to facilitate air cooling. The.y condenser 'isrprovidedwith'fa device I6 constructed in,accordance'withthis inventionto permitinitialfexhaustion of air vfron'rxtlfie system and the subsequentsealing of thews'ystern against .inwardl leakage of atmospheric air,while a s'imilardevice laf'ma'y be provided on the cooler.l 4

'.A sealing vdevice Glfsmounted on the upper part Qf Vthe entrairlingchamber 2z of the purger' 26 inthe manner more fully disclosedinfmy'copending-application Serial No. 167,402 filed October 5, 1937, whichalso contains a more come plet'edisc1osur e of a system'. of thecharacter which hasv justy been described. 'Y f Thepres'ent inventionrelates lparticularlyto the. construction and arrangement of the sealingdevices" 16,165 and-the similar sealing'f'deviceTil-LA Referring toFigs. '2fand3,-which Villustrate the details Vof the former,'it is to beunderstoodthat the device is provided with a short connecting tube 50extending to the upper part ofthe condenser I4. A cup-like socket member5| has a tubular extension 52 welded to the tube 50, a portion of whichprojectsupwardly within the member 5|.y Thelatter is shown moreparticularly in Fig. 3, andcomprises an annular lower wall 53 disposedabout the tubular portion 52, and an outer upwardly extending annularside wall 54. An inner annular side Wall 55' is disn posedconcentrically within the Wall 54 so that these two walls denne anannular recess or groove *which is open at its top. The outer wall 54lis provided with opposite downwardly extending protuberances 14''lwhichj` are adaptedto yfit between `a corresponding pair of;protuberances 56 of the socket member when the'cap is fitted 'over thesocket member. A second ring 16 may conveniently be disposed about theupper part of the cap 1B. A suitable sealingjring 80 ofl yield-` ablematerial such as rubber, isdisposed within the annulargroove'between'the walls 54jand 55 of the socket member 5|, this sealingring being arranged so thatv it may be compressed rmly against theinnerand outer walls 54 and 55, as the lower edge of the cap 1'is presseddown` wardly on the ring. y

When a sealing device of this type is to be employed to permit theexhaustion of non`v condensable gases from the system and the subesequent lling and sealing of the'system, ra Lrather heavy tube 99 ofyieldable material, such as rubber, may be fitted over vthe portion ofthe metal tube 50 that projects above the socket member 5|. This rubbertube 90 may be temporarily connected 'to a suitable tubular memberkextending to a vacuum pump. When the vacuum pump has withdrawnsubstantially all of the` air from the system, a suitable clamp maybesecured upon the intermediate part of theftube 99, firmly to atten thewalls lthereof to prevent the inward movement'of airl when the vacuumduct is disconnected. rThereupon a suitable plug 9| of non-porousmaterial may be fitted rmly within the upper end of thefrubber'tubel 90,above the clamp. The clamp may then be removed and the. cap lll'maybe`disposed in engagement with the sealing ringjll, the parts 14 and 56being arranged in intertting engagement. i

Thereupon the stirrup 95 may Abepositioned with 'itshooked lower endsinU engagementwith the lower Wall of the 'socket member 5|. `The stirrup`95 may convenientlyf be a U'shaped member formed of strap metal andhaving the lowerr `ends of its legs upturned, as designated by numeral96, to t about a` flange lon the lower part of `the socket member. Theupper kpari;v or bite portion of the stirrup member 95 maybe providedwith a reinforcing bar 91. A cap screw 98 is threaded through an openingin thefupper part of thestirrup member l91 and has an` endportion'engageable withthe cap r1|). Accordingel 1y, as ,the cap screw9.8 is tightened, the upturned endportions 9.5.'. of the; legs ofi`tl'ie'stirrupL are 2,188,990 y y l y pressed upwardly in rin engagementwith thev socketv 5| and the cap `screw forces the cap 1l)v downwardlyin iirm engagement with the yield-v able sealing'ring 8|!A As thisoccursA the 'annular ribs 51 and 1| bite into theyieldable ring-'30,pressing the same firmly against the walls 54 and 55 of the socketmember 5l.

'Thus me sealing ring affords ak dependable air-tight seall to preventthev inward leakage of air, while the 12;'

plug 9| aiords an inner secondary seal which aids `in attaining thisresult.;v Obviously if decondensing gas from the system, theworkingsired, before exhaustion of air or other none.

fluids, e. g., mercury and water, may be introduced through the rubbertube 9U and the con.-

necting tube 59 to ilow into the condenser i4" and thus into the lowerpart of the system.

When it is kdesired to obtain access to the interiorof vthe system, itis necessary to loosen the cap screw 98 so that the stirrup 95^may beremoved ,from the 'device |6 andto lift the cap `'|'IJ from the 'socketmember 5|. Thereupon the pluglll may `be removed from the rubber' tube9U so that' air or 'other 'gas intothe system. l The Adevicel 5I, whichisassofciated with 'the' may freely' pass purger assembly, may beof theAsame general vcharacter as Vthe ldevices i'and |6a and the exac't.arrangement 'of a purger; assembly kwithfa deA` vice of this characteris more fully' dis'closedin my copendng appncationsenai No; 167,402 medOctober "5, 1937.

Thel devicefl 'comprisesmany parts similarto the parts shown `for thedeviceyl, suchfp'artsv being indicated by corresponding referencenumerals. Thus the device 61 'includes a stirrup member 95a similar' to'but smallerl than ,stirrup 95, this stirrup member being' providedwithv a capscrew v98a which `engages a cap V1941' having member rua isprcwided"with dependen-ing ring f 13a 'having `a vdownwardlyfprotub'erant portion" 'Nl2L engageable 'irns'o'cketfs in' the outer'annular wall of the,A cap memberV 51a; asv shown in jIEig.l 4.

n The device I'll is preferably provided witliaplug 91a 'ttingwitliinthe open end of the tube ',22.

It is evidentthat when the `device'lljisQto'bc'e arranged in yits normaloperative position,` the plug 91eI is ''rst fitted within the `upperend' of the tube '22,jth`e `cap 19a' is disposedfioverlthe sealingringj'll'af which iits within'the 'annular groove provided "by thev cup'member 5|a*and'tlie upper end of the tub'e22. When' this vis done thevprotub'e'rarrc'es 14'a 'on'jthering 13a of thel cap,

iit within the correspondingrevcesses in the cmp'l member 5|e. The'stirrup 9'5`is then positioned with' the' extensions ofthe lower" endsof its legs k under the -bottom wally ofthe cup 5|.2L and' fthe* capscrew e Y' is theny tightened-"to press the cap 10a firmly in engagementwith the vvsealingmeme ber E; Since the cap-y l-De and the cap-5|? -areI.

provided with annular ribs which bite intofthev yieldable materialfyof'the `ring, the; latter( is `7.0":

rmly pressed in engagement with@ thewallsof thea-ssembly. f ,g It istoibe. understood ythat the protuberanoes' '|4fan'd 'I4a aree'ectivecinpositioning. thecaps l e 10 "and 10a; .respectively,.so thatztlieyVdo'not tend' to rotate as the corresponding cap screw is. tight-f enedor loosened. Accordingly scoring ofthe rubber of the sealing ring isavoided and the maintenance of an air-tight seal is substantiallyfacilitated.

practice, after a system of this character has been manufactured, air orother non-condensing ygas may be Withdrawn from the system lthrough thetube 90 of sealing device I6, it being understood that the device 6I isclosed Whilethe `system is thus being evacuated and that the device I6amay be open but the rubber tube thereof may bepinched to preventvleakage of atmospheric air'into the system. When evacuation of the4system has thus been effected, the device IEW preferably is connectedto a suitable reservoir containing an inert gas, such as nitrogen, whichis then controllably admitted to the system while y the rubber tube 90is clamped to prevent flow of The system may'thus bev gas through deviceI6. f illed with the inert gas at atmospheric pressure,

' thecaps 1 0 of the devices I6 and, I 6a being clampedin place so thatthe apparatus is made ready for shipping or storage until it is used.The

filling ofthe system with inert gas in this manner substantiallyprevents oxidation of the metal parts thereof.

When the apparatus is to be put into use, the propellant, eg., mercury,may'rst be introduced f intothe system. As' a matter of convenience,

' Working fluids.

thev propellant may be introduced through both the devices I'and I 6a,such a methodfacilitating the-filling of certain traps.` Thus in theparticular arrangement shown in Fig. 1, a measured quantity of mercurymay be introduced through the device I6, passing through the duct I3into the trap, 20 and overflowing from the latter into the lower part of the purger assembly to seal the same. By tipping the apparatus, someof .this mercury may also be caused to pass into the trap I9.vThereafter the remaining mercury required bythe system may be introducedthrough the device Ia, thus filling the traps 2| and `I3 and overflowingfromv the latter into the duct 45 and the .boiler I. The apparatus isthen evacuated through* the condenser sealing device I6. Refrigerantpreferably may be introduced through the `device IIa after partialevacuation has been effectedy through the device I 6. Thereafter theevacuation may be completed Ato bring the internal pressure down to thedesired low point.

Devices of the character shown hereinA permit the convenient evacuationof systems of the character shown and the filling of the same with theIt is desirable to provide both thedevices I6 and IIia to facilitate theAfilling of all the necessary parts of the machine with the )Workingfluids, especially when the system has a traparrangement such as shownin my c-opend-v ing application Serial No. 171,325.

It is furthermore evident .that the present invention affords simplesealing means' which are effective in maintaining an air-tight seal for'an indefinite period but which may readily be disassembled to affordaccess to the interior of the system when desired.

I claim; l

1. A sealing device of the class described comprising a connecting tube,a socket member secured concentrically'to the tube, with the end of thetube extending through the socket member, an annular sealing ring ofyieldable material disposed Within the socket member, a cap having anedge engaging the sealing ring, and clamping means to press the capagainst the sealing ring, said socket member and cap being provided withintertting portions tofy prevent thexrotation of the cap when theclamping means are employed to. press the cap againstthe sealing ring,said socket member and cap each f having. annular ribs engaging and.biting. intothe yleldable maf terial of the sealing ring.; j l f .A

2. Avsealing device of the class described comprising a connecting.tube, a socket member sercured to the tube with the end ofthe tubeextending through the socketmember, azsealing ring of yieldable materialWithin the socket member, the socket member affording an annular groovein which the sealing ring is. disposed, a .tube of yieldlable materialin telescoping engagement with'the end` of the connecting tube, a plug.detachably ttingtwithin the endof ysaid tube vof `yieldable material,acap.. enclosing the last-named f tube and having an. edge engaging-'thesealing ring,- and clamping means effective to present the cap againstthe sealing r ring and thereby to hold the latter in tightengagement'with Ithe walls of thegroove.. y t

3. A sealing'devic'e ofthe class described lcom-y prising a connectingtube, a socketrmember se- `cured to thetube withl the vend of the tubeextending through the socket member, a sealing ring ofyieldable-material Within thesocke't-member, thesocket .member affordingan annular groove in which thensealingfring isl disposed, a

tube of yieldable material in telescoping engage.l ment With the end ofthe connecting' tube, a plug detachably tting'withintheend of said'tubeVof yieldable material, 'a" cap enclosing lthe? lastnamed tube and havingan edge engaging the `sealing ring, and clamping means effective topresent the cap against` the sealing ring and thereby to hold the'latter in tight engagement with the Walls of the'groove, said clampingmeans comprising a stirruphaving` opposite legs extending at the sidesof the'cap and with inturned end portions engaging the socket, and `ascrewthreaded member extending through an internally threaded opening inthefupper part of the stirrup and pressing the cap firmlyv against theseal ing ring. l M w 4. A sealing deviceof the class describedcomprising a connecting'tube, a socket member vsecuredto the tube withthe end ofthe tubey extending through the socket memberfa sealing ringof yielclable material Within'the Socket member, -the socket memberaording an annular groove in Which] the Sealing ring is disposed, a tubeof yieldable material .in telescopingxengagement Withthexendof'tliefconnecting tube,v a plug detachablycfitting Withinr the endvof`said tube of vyieldable material, valcap Aenclosingfthe last-namedtubean-d'having an edgeengaging the sealing ring, and" clamping means veffective to l press -thecap'against the sealing ringand .thereby tohold thelatter in tight engagement withj the vvalls of the groove, saidclamping means comprising a stirrup having'op'pos'ite legs at the sidesof thecap and socket With inturned end portions engaging the socket, anda screw-threadring of Vy'ieldable material *withinv the socket member,`the socket member vailording lan annular :groove 2in which the sealing.ring is disposed, a tube Tof yieldable material in telescopingengagement with the Eend of the connecting tube, a plug detachablyfitting Within the end of ysaid tube of 'yieldable rmaterial, :a capenclosing the last-'named tube `andhaving van 'edgel engaging thesealing :ring,.an'dfclamping m'eans eiective to press .thecap againstthesealing -ring and thereby to :hold 'the latter .in tight engagementwith the walls ofthe groove, said clamping means comprising 4aYstirruprhaving opposite legs at the sides of-the cap and socket-withinturned end p01'- tions engaging :the socket, anda screw-threadedmember eX-tending throughv an :internally threaded 4ope-ning in fthestirrup member and pressing against the cap'drm'ly to holdthe latter inengagement with'the sealing' ring,said cap and socki et vrnernberrbeingprovided with'intertting means to prevent the :rotation ofthe cap memberas the screw-threaded element is4 tightened thereby avoiding 'scoringofthe sealing ring.

-6. A sealing device ofthe'class described comprising a connecting tube,a socket member secured to the tube with the lend of the tube extending`through the socket member, a sealing ring of yieldable material Withinthesocket member, the Vsocket memberI affording `an annular groove inwhich the sealing ring is disposed, a tube. of -yieldablematerial-fintelescoping engagement with `the end of the connecting tube,a plug detachably fitting within the end of said tube Vof Ayieldablematerial, a cap enclosing the last-named tube andhaving an edge engagingthe sealing ring,Y and clamping means effective to press the capagainstthe sealing ring and thereby to hold the latter rvin tightengagement with the walls of the groove, said clamping means comprisinga stirrup` having opposite legs at the sides of the cap and socket withinturned end portionsengaging the socket, and a screw-threaded member`extending ,throughy an internallyl threaded "opening 'in the -stirrupmember and pressing against the cap firmly to hold the latter inengagement with the sealing ring,1said cap and socket member eachproviding an annular rib engaging and biting into the yieldable materialof the vsealing ring, said cap and socket member being provided withinterfitting means to prevent the rotation of theA cap member as thescrewthreaded element is tightened, thereby avoiding scoring of the'sealing ring.

7. In apparatus of' the class'described, a seal to precludethe leakageof atmospheric air into the apparatus, comprising cooperating parts witha yieldable 'sealing .member therebetween, and clamping means to forcesaid parts toward each other and to `cause the firm engagement of theksealing member therewith, said parts having ribs Vwhich are pressed intothe surface V4of the seaif-ing member when the Vparts are forcedagainst" the same,'and having intertting portions to pr'event relativerotation of said parts and rotation`r l,

ring

of'feither' of 'the same relativeto ithe sealing when-the parts are thusforcedfto'get'her.

In apparatus of `theclass described, fadu'ct a sealing 'arrangement incombination therewith,

said arrangement comprising a cup-like, merhber'fA j of the duct, anannular sealingelement disposed secured Yin concentric relation to anend portieri` about the duct and within'th'e cup-like member;

a cap having a lower `edge engageable vwithfthev sealing member, andscrew-threaded clamping means'to press the cap downwardly against thesealing member and force the-latter .into vfirm engagementwiththe innersurface of the-outer scoring ofthe material of the sealing elementpk 9.A sealing device-tof the class-described; com'- Drising va 'connecting'tube, a `socket memberse- 5" cured to the tube with the end o'f thetuberextending through the socket member, a sealing ringof yieldablematerial Witlriin the socket'member, the socket member aordingy anannular groove in which the sealing ring lis disposed,y a.. tube of,yieldablevmaterial in telescoping engagement withthe-.end oftheconnecting tube; a'

plug detachably fitting within 'the end fof said tube of yieldablematerial, acap enclosing the last-named tube and. having ianedgevengaging the sealing ring, and clamping means veiective to presentthe ycap against thesealing ringand thereby to hold the .latter in.tight engagement with the'walls of the :,groove, said cap and socketmember providing interfittingportions. to oppose;v

rotation of the ycap .'member Aasl .the clampingA if nular ribs to'biteinto the ring, screw threaded 'l *fr fastening means to pressthe capagainst the ring" and to cause the ribs to* bite into said ring,-'s'adclamping means tending to cause rotation offj'the cap as Vsaid means istightened, and interttingparts on the cap and socket'to rotationthereof. y Y LYMAN Fn WHITNEY.`

prevent 'relative

